Track position measuring bogie

ABSTRACT

In track surveying or correction apparatus, a measuring bogie with two flanged wheels running on the track rails. The wheels are transversely movable in respect of a carrier for a track surveying element which is to be kept at a constant distance from a selected grade rail. A remotely controllable drive presses the carrier against the grade rail by a drive which is connected with the carrier, on the one hand, and the flanged wheel running on, and in contact with, the other rail.

United States Patent Plasser et a]. [451 Aug. 22, 1972 [54] TRACKPOSITION MEASURING BOGIE 3,405,449 10/1968 Kantola ..33/ 145 [72]Inventors; Franz mm Vienna; Wilhelm 3,334,592 8/1967 Plasser ..l04/8Praschl, Linz-Urfahr, both of Ausv ma Primary Examiner-Leonard Forman[73] Assignee: Franz Plasser Bahnbaumaschinen- Assistant Examiner-PaulFoldes lndustriegesellschaft m.b.H. Attorney-Kurt Kelman [22] Filed:'March 16, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 19,988 ABSTRAC In track surveying orcorrection apparatus, ameasur- [30] Foreign Application P i it D t ingbogie with two flanged wheels running on the r track rails. Thewheelsare transversely movable in March Austria respect of a carrier for atrack yi g element which is to be kept at a constant distance from a,selected grade rail. Arer'notely controllable drive v[58] Fie'ld "104 833/l45 144 presses the, carrier against the grade rail by a drive whichis connected with the carrier, on'the one hand, [56] References Citedand the flanged wheel running on, and in contact with,

the other rail.

UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,557,459 l/ 1971 Plasser 104/8 10 Claims, 4Drawing Figures PAIENTED M1222 1912 3.685157 1 NVENTORS FR b112-PLA'SSER BY WILKE'LM PRA'SCKL.

TRACK POSITION MEASURING BOGIE The present invention relates toimprovements in measuring bogies used in surveying and/or correcting theposition of a track.

Measuring bogies of this type comprise a running gear with atransversely extending carrier, a track surveying element fixedlymounted on the carrier, and two substantially coaxially mounted flangedwheels supported on the carrier, with each of the flanged wheels runningon a respective one of the track rails and the flanges of the wheels incontact with the rails. A remotely controllable drive, such as apneumatically or hydraulically operated cylinder-piston motor, pressesthe carrier by means of one of the flanged wheels transversely against aselected one of the rails serving as grade rail whereby the tracksurveying element on the carrier is held at a constant distance from thegrade rail.

In this type of apparatus, it has been proposed to use a separatepneumatic or hydraulic motor to press a shoe transversely against theinside on one of the rails to move the wheel carrier and the wheelsagainst the opposite rail serving as the grade rail. Such drives havemany advantages, including the simple and accurate control of thepressure so that the operation could be precisely remote controlled.More particularly, they make it possible to operate a series ofsuccessive bogies simultaneously and accurately with the same pressurewhere a number of spaced bogies are used, for instance as part of a longreference system in track lining. Furthermore, drives of this type makeit possible to select the grade rail at will, changes of the grade railduring lining being necessary when the direction of a track curvechanges since the outer rail is always used as the grade rail in trackcurves.

According to this invention, it is also preferred to use a pneumaticallyor hydraulically operated drive although remotely controllableelectromagnetic or electrical drives may also be used, electromagneticdrives of this type being disclosed, for instance, in copending US. Pat.No. 3,557,459, filed June 5, 1968, of which one of the joint inventorsherein is a joint inventor.

It is the primary object of the invention to simplify the constructionof such an apparatus and to provide a compact and economical unit takingup a minimum of space and requiring only relatively few parts, whichmakes the apparatus less subject to breakdown.

This object is accomplished in accordance with the present inventionwith a running gear of the indicated type, wherein the flanged wheelsand the carrier are transversely movable in respect of each other, andthe remotely controllable drive for pressing the carrier against thegrade rail is connected, on the one hand, with the carrier and, on theother hand, with the other flanged wheel running on, and in contactwith, the other rail for moving the other flanged wheel.

In such a structure, all forces actively or passively acting on thetrack are exerted in an advantageous manner more or less in the range ofa single imaginary horizontal axis extending transversely of the track,at the same point of the track and with the same parts, i.e., alwayswith flanged wheels, which are used, on the one hand, actively aspressure elements, like the shoes of the prior art, and, on the otherhand, passively locating the track surveying element. The need forseparate hydraulic or pneumatic shoes, which often interfere with themovement of the running gear over encumbered track sections, is thusavoided. All parts of the apparatus are compactly arranged and form amechanical unit. The pressure points on the track are no longer spacedfrom each other in the direction of track elongation but are alwaystransversely aligned.

The above and other objects, advantages and features of this inventionwill become more apparent from the following detailed description of anow preferred embodiment, taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawing wherein FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of a conventional tracklining machine in connection with which the measuring bogies of theinvention may be used;

FIG. la is a similar view of a conventional track leveling, lining andtamping machine whose reference system may make use of these measuringbogies;

FIG. 2 is a front view, partly in section, as seen in the direction ofarrow II of FIG. 3, of a running gear used as a measuring bogieaccording to the invention; and

FIG. 3 is a top view of the running gear.

Referring now to the drawing and first to FIG. 1, there is shown amobile track liner 1 which may operate in either direction, as indicatedby the horizontal arrows, along track 2. The machine frame runs on thetrack on wheels 3 and carries a track lining tool 4 intermediate thewheels, the lining tool engaging the track rails and being transverselymovable to line the engaged track. The reference system for the liningincludes a reference line 5 extending between end stations 6, 6connected to the respective ends of the liner frame by means of spacingrods 6', 6", respectively, the reference line passingintermediatestation 7 and measuring station 8 at the point of lining. Tomake the reference system accurate, the reference line must be locatedat a constant distance from the track, i.e., its grade rail, for whichpurpose the running gears described hereinafter are positioned atstations 6, 7,

and 8, as is well known in modern track lining operations of this type.

Since these running gears are useful in any lining operation andregardless of the number of reference lines, the reference system andthe lining operation will not be further described. As shown in FIG. lamerely by way of further explanation, such running gears may also beused in other types of mobile track working machines or in any type ofoperation requiring a survey of the track position.

The combined track tamping, leveling and lining machine of FIG. lacomprises a mobile frame 1' moving on track 2 by means of wheels 3',track lining tools 4 being mounted on the frame between the wheels.Lining is effected in relation to reference line 5'. A fixed point forthe reference system is located at station 7' and the measuring station8' is located at the track lining point. An overhanging portion of theframe carries track tampers 9 and track lifting tools 10, the trackleveling operation being controlled by a reference system including areceiver 11 for a reference beam 12. The receiver rests. on on thepreviously leveled track and is carried by vertically movable rod 13 toindicate the desired level to which the tools 10 are to lift the track,leveling operations of this type being well known and requiring nofurther description for the purposes of the present invention.

As previously pointed out, the running gear of this invention may beused in this type of track correction apparatus to survey the trackposition and thus to form a part of the reference system for the liningoperation.

A preferred embodiment of such a running gear is shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.It comprises a transversely extending carrier 18 provided with guidemeans consisting of guide sleeves 17, 17 for glidably mounting the stubaxles 16, 16' of flanged wheels 14, 14 which are at least substantiallycoaxially supported on the carrier 18 and run on a respective track rail15, 15', with the flanges of the wheels in contact with the rails. Inthis manner, the flanged wheels and the carrier are transversely movablein respect of each other.

A bracket 19 carrying a track surveying element 30 is fixedly mounted oncarrier 18. In the illustrated embodiment, the track surveying elementconsists of a pulley and a tensioned wire 5 serving as a reference lineis trained over the pulley 30. Since the reference line serves as thedatum for the track position, the end point 30 thereof must be held at aconstant distance from the selected grade rail. The tensioned wirepasses from pulley 30 over guide roller 21 to wire tensioning reel 31which may be turned by handle 23 and, when the wire has been tensioned,may be held against rotation in a known manner to keep the wire undertension. The tensioning reel 31 is mounted on bracket 18a which isfixedly mounted on carrier 18. If desired, brackets 18a and 19 may beintegral with the carrier, the brackets in any case forming part of thecarrier.

The illustrated remotely controllable drive of the present inventionconsists of two like hydraulically or pneumatically operated motors eachconsisting of a cylinder 20, 20', a piston 21, 21', a piston rod 22,22', and a pressure fluid conduit 20a, 20a. Since pressure fluidoperated motors of this type are very well known, the structure is onlyschematically indicated and their operation requires no furtherdescription. It is equally obviousthat the two cylinder-piston motorscould be replaced by a single double-acting cylinder-piston motorfunctioning identically. Furthermore, the drive may be a magnetically,electromagnetically, electrically or mechanically operated motor of anysuitable type which may be remote controlled.

In the illustrated embodiment, the two separate drives are arrangedlaterally adjacent the track surveying element 30, and the tracksurveying element is mounted intermediate the wheels 14, 14. Thecylinder of each drive forms a fixed part thereof while the piston rodand piston of each drive constitutes a movable part of the drive. Thefixed cylinders are linked to the carrier bracket 18a at pivots 19, 19while the free outer ends of the piston rods 22, 22' are linkedrespectively to one end of guide levers 24, 24'. The guide levers arepivoted intermediate their ends to stops 25, 25 respectively, while theother ends of the guide levers are linked to brackets 23, 23,respectively, which are mounted on carrier 18. The stops 25, 25 areconstituted by bushings fixedly mounted on, or integral with, stub axles16, 16 of the flanged wheels, these bushings being laterally adjacentthe carrier 18. Thus, when the carrier is transversely moved in eitherdirection into engagement with a respective stop, it will take along thestop and its stub axle and thus indirectly move a respective one of theflanged wheels to press its flange against the selected rail.

Obviously, the present invention is not limited to the illustratedconnection of driving parts to the flanged wheels. For instance, itwould be functionally equivalent to mount the flanged wheels laterallymovably on an axle which is fixedly mountedon the carrier 18 and todrive the movably mounted wheels instead of their movably mounted axles.At any rate, the drive is connected indirectly, on the one hand, withthe end of carrier 18 to be pressed against the grade rail and, on theother hand, with the flanged wheel opposite to this end for pressing thecarrierwith its track surveying element against the grade rail whilesimultaneously holding the opposite flanged wheel in contact with theopposite rail.

The above-described drive operates as follows:

Referring to FIG. 3, the position of the drive is indicated in fulllines with the assumption that the right outward pressure of the pistonrod 22 which is indirectly connected to stop 25 will hold the stop inposition so as to maintain the contact of flanged wheel 14 with rail 15,the stop 25, stub axle l6 and wheel 14 forming a unit. At the same time,the counterpressure of the pressure fluid in the right-hand chamber ofcylinder 20 will exert a pressure against the carrier bracket 18a topress the same with the carrier towards the right. Carrier 18 beingtransversely movable in respect of the stub axles 16, 16, the rightwardmovement of the carrier will bring its right end into engagement withstop 25' of stub axle 16. Thus, the carrier and track surveying element30 are moved into the position shown in full lines in FIG. 3, pressingthe flanged wheel 14' against the grade rail 15 and holding the tracksurveying element 30 at a fixed distance from the grade rail, whichdistance is determined by the position of stop 25. This movement of thecarrier 18 is further effected by the pivoting of two-armed guide levers24, 24' whose one ends are linked to the piston rods moving in oppositedirections while its other ends are linked to carrier brackets 23, 23'to move the same towards the right.

If rail 15 is to be the grade rail, pressure fluid is supplied to thechambers on the left of the pistons to reverse the movement, asindicated in FIG. 3 in broken lines.

In both positions, the flanged wheels 14 and 14' are held in contactwith the rails whereon they run. The

those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope ofthe present invention, as defined in the claims. As indicated, anysuitable remote controlled drive may be used and the motion-transmittingmeans from the drive to the flanged wheels and the carrier may take anydesired form.

What is claimed is:

1. A running gear for surveying the position of a track, comprising 1. atransversely extending carrier,

2. a track surveying element fixedly mounted on the carrier,

3. two substantially coaxially mounted flanged wheels supported on thecarrier, a. the flanged wheels and the carrier being transverselymovable in respect to each other, and b. each of the flanged wheelsrunning on a respective one of the track rails, with the flanges of thewheels in contact with the rails,

. a remotely controllable drive for pressing the carrier together withone of the flanged wheels transversely in the direction of a selectedone of the rails serving as a grade rail, whereby the track surveyingelement on the carrier is held at a constant distance from the graderail, and for holding the other wheel in contact with the other rail,and

5. motion-transmitting means between the drive and I the carrier, on theone hand, and the other flanged wheel, on the other hand, forsimultaneously driving the carrier towards the grade rail and the otherflanged wheel into contact with the other rail.

2. The running gear of claim 1, wherein the drive is a cylinder-pistonpressure fluid operated motor.

3. The running gear of claim 1, comprising a separate one of said drivesfor each of said wheels, the separate drives being arranged laterallyadjacent the track surveying element, said element being mountedintermediate the flanged wheels. I

4. The running gear of claim 1, further comprising a stub axle carryingeach of said flanged wheels, substantially coaxial guide means on thecarrier for glidably mounting the stub axles on the carrier, and saiddrive being connected to the stub axles.

5. The running gear of claim 4, wherein the'motiontransmitting meanscomprises a stop fixedly mounted on each of said stub-axles, the stopsbeing laterally adjacent the carrier, the drive pressing the carriertransversely against the'stop on the stub axle of the one flanged wheelwhile holding the other flanged wheel in contact with the other rail.

6. A running gear for surveying the position of a track, comprising 1. atransversely extending carrier,

2. a track surveying element fixedly mounted on the carrier,

3. two stub axles mounted on the carrier and each carrying a flangedwheel,

a. each of the flanged wheels running on a respective one of the trackrails, with the flanges of the wheels in contact with the rails,

4. two substantially coaxial guide sleeves for slidably mountingrespective ones of the stub axles on the carrier whereby the flangedwheels and the carrier are transversely movable with respect of eachother,

5. a remotely controllable drive connected to the stub axles forpressing the carrier together with one of the flanged wheelstransversely in the direction of a selected one of the rails serving asa grade rail, whereby the track surveying element on the carrier is heldat a constant distance from the grade rail, and for holding the flangeof the other wheel in contact with the other rail, and

6. motion-transmitting means between the drive and the carrier, on theone hand, and the other flanged wheel, on the other hand, forsimultaneously driving the carrier towards the grade rail and the otherflanged wheel into contact withthe other rail,

a. the motion-transmitting means comprising a stop bushing fixedlymounted on each of the stub axles adjacent a respective one of the guidesleeves, and the drive pressing the carrier transversely against thestop bushing on the stub axle of the one flanged wheel while holding theother flanged wheel in contact with the other rail.

7. A running gear for surveying the position of a track, comprising l atransversely extending carrier,

2. a track surveying element fisedly mounted on the carrier,

3. two stub axles mounted on the carrier and each carrying a flangedwheel,

a. each of the flanged wheels running on a respective one ofthe trackrails, with the flanges of the wheels in contact with the rails,

4. two substantially coaxial guide means for slidably mounting the stubaxles on the carrier whereby the flanged wheels and the carrier aretransversely movable in respect of each other,

5. a remotely controllable drive connected to the stub axles forpressing the carrier together with one of the flanged wheelstransversely in the direction of a selected one of the rails serving asa grade rail, whereby the track surveying element on the carrier is heldat aconstant distance from the grade rail, and for holding the flange ofthe other wheel in contact with the-other rail, the drive comprising a.a fixed part connected with the carrier, and a movable part connectedwith the stub axles, the fixed and movable parts of the drive beingarranged adjacent the stub axles and guide means therefor and extendingin the same direction as the stub axles and guide means, and

. motion-transmitting means between the drive and the carrier, on theone hand, and the other flanged wheel, on the other hand, forsimultaneously driving the carrier towards the grade rail and the otherflanged wheel into contact with the other rail.

8. The running gear of claim 7, wherein the motiontransmitting meanscomprises a stop fixedly mounted on each of the stub axles, the stopsbeing laterally adjacent the carrier and the movable part of the drivebeing connected with the stops for moving the same,

and a guide lever interposed between the movable part of the drive andeach of the stub axle stops.

9. The running gear of claim 12, wherein the motiontransmitting meanscomprises a-guide lever interposed between the movable part of the driveand the stub axle connected thereto.

10. The running gear of claim 13, wherein each guide lever is pivoted toa respective one of the stub axle stops, one end of the guide leversbeing linked to the movable drive part and the other end of the guidelevers being linked to the carrier.

1. A running gear for surveying the position of a track, comprising
 1. atransversely extending carrier,
 2. a track surveying element fixedlymounted on the carrier,
 3. two substantially coaxially mounted flangedwheels supported on the carrier, a. the flanged wheels and the carrierbeing transversely movable in respect to each other, and b. each of theflanged wheels running on a respective one of the track rails, with theflanges of the wheels in contact with the rails,
 4. a remotelycontrollable drive for pressing the carrier together with one of theflanged wheels transversely in the direction of a selected one of therails serving as a grade rail, whereby the track surveying element onthe carrier is held at a constant distance from the grade rail, and forholding the other wheel in contact with the other rail, and 5.motion-transmitting means between the drive and the carrier, on the onehand, and the other flanged wheel, on the other hand, for simultaneouslydriving the carrier towards the grade rail and the other flanged wheeLinto contact with the other rail.
 2. a track surveying element fixedlymounted on the carrier,
 2. a track surveying element fixedly mounted onthe carrier,
 2. a track surveying element fixedly mounted on thecarrier,
 2. The running gear of claim 1, wherein the drive is acylinder-piston pressure fluid operated motor.
 3. The running gear ofclaim 1, comprising a separate one of said drives for each of saidwheels, the separate drives being arranged laterally adjacent the tracksurveying element, said element being mounted intermediate the flangedwheels.
 3. two stub axles mounted on the carrier and each carrying aflanged wheel, a. each of the flanged wheels running on a respective oneof the track rails, with the flanges of the wheels in contact with therails,
 3. two substantially coaxially mounted flanged wheels supportedon the carrier, a. the flanged wheels and the carrier being transverselymovable in respect to each other, and b. each of the flanged wheelsrunning on a respective one of the track rails, with the flanges of thewheels in contact with the rails,
 3. two stub axles mounted on thecarrier and each carrying a flanged wheel, a. each of the flanged wheelsrunning on a respective one of the track rails, with the flanges of thewheels in contact with the rails,
 4. two substantially coaxial guidesleeves for slidably mounting respective ones of the stub axles on thecarrier whereby the flanged wheels and the carrier are transverselymovable with respect of each other,
 4. a remotely controllable drive forpressing the carrier together with one of the flanged wheelstransversely in the direction of a selected one of the rails serving asa grade rail, whereby the track surveying element on the carrier is heldat a constant distance from the grade rail, and for holding the otherwheel in contact with the other rail, and
 4. two substantially coaxialguide means for slidably mounting the stub axles on the carrier wherebythe flanged wheels and the carrier are transversely movable in respectof each other,
 4. The running gear of claim 1, further comprising a stubaxle carrying each of said flanged wheels, substantially coaxial guidemeans on the carrier for glidably mounting the stub axles on thecarrier, and said drive being connected to the stub axles.
 5. Therunning gear of claim 4, wherein the motion-transmitting means comprisesa stop fixedly mounted on each of said stub axles, the stops beinglaterally adjacent the carrier, the drive pressing the carriertransversely against the stop on the stub axle of the one flanged wheelwhile holding the other flanged wheel in contact with the other rail. 5.a remotely controllable drive connected to the stub axles for pressingthe carrier together with one of the flanged wheels transversely in thedirection of a selected one of the rails serving as a grade rail,whereby the track surveying element on the carrier is held at a constantdistance from the grade rail, and for holding the flange of the otherwheel in contact with the other rail, the drive comprising a. a fixedpart connected with the carrier, and a movable part connected with thestub axles, the fixed and movable parts of the drive being arrangedadjacent the stub axles and guide means therefor and extending in thesame direction as the stub axles and guide means, and
 5. a remotelycontrollable drive connected to the stub axles for pressing the carriertogether with one of the flanged wheels transversely in the direction ofa selected one of the rails serving as a grade rail, whereby the tracksurveying element on the carrier is held at a constant distance from thegrade rail, and for holding the flange of the other wheel in contactwith the other rail, and
 5. motion-transmitting means between the driveand the carrier, on the one hand, and the other flanged wheel, on theother hand, for simultaneously driving the carrier towards the graderail and the other flanged wheeL into contact with the other rail. 6.motion-transmitting means between the drive and the carrier, on the onehand, and the other flanged wheel, on the other hand, for simultaneouslydriving the carrier towards the grade rail and the other flanged wheelinto contact with the other rail, a. the motion-transmitting meanscomprising a stop bushing fixedly mounted on each of the stub axlesadjacent a respective one of the guide sleeves, and the drive pressingthe carrier transversely against the stop bushing on the stub axle ofthe one flanged wheel while holding the other flanged wheel in contactwith the other rail.
 6. motion-transmitting means between the drive andthe carrier, on the one hand, and the other flanged wheel, on the otherhand, for simultaneously driving the carrier towards the grade rail andthe other flanged wheel into contact with the other rail.
 6. A runninggear for surveying the position of a track, comprising
 7. A running gearfor surveying the position of a track, comprising
 8. The running gear ofclaim 7, wherein the motion-transmitting means comprises a stop fixedlymounted on each of the stub axles, the stops being laterally adjacentthe carrier and the movable part of the drive being connected with thestops for moving the same, and a guide lever interposed between themovable part of the drive and each of the stub axle stops.
 9. Therunning gear of claim 7, wherein the motion-transmitting means comprisesa guide lever interposed between the movable part of the drive and thestub axle connected thereto.
 10. The running gear of claim 8, whereineach guide lever is pivoted to a respective one of the stub axle stops,one end of the guide levers being linked to the movable drive part andthe other end of the guide levers being linked to the carrier.